Judge Gary Blaylock Andrews of the state Court of Appeals announced Wednesday that he would retire in July after 27 years on the appellate bench.

Andrews' move will give Gov. Nathan Deal an expected fourth open seat to fill on the 15-member court. The U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Lisa Branch for a U.S. Court of Appeals seat Tuesday and is expected to vote on Judges Billy Ray and Tripp Self for U.S. District Court seats.

“I want to thank the people of Georgia for allowing me to serve the state for over 42
years,” said Andrews, 71, who was elected to the post in 1990. Andrews was re-elected four times, with the 1996 race serving as a watershed in Georgia judicial politics.

Mark Merritt, one of two challengers, ran a television commercial criticizing Andrews for reversing the conviction of a confessed child molester “on a technicality.” Merritt, whose campaign was significantly funded by plaintiffs lawyers who considered Andrews' rulings too favorable to defendants, was sharply rebuked by the Judicial Qualifications Commission. The ad led to restrictions on judicial election behavior that were subsequently struck down by federal courts.

Merritt came in third place, and Andrews defeated Anne Elizabeth Barnes in a runoff. (Barnes would win a subsequent election to become Andrews' colleague.)

Andrews told the Daily Report years later that judicial candidates should be cautious in attacking their opponents. ”Being a judge is just different from being governor … and things that occurred and how you conduct yourself during the election is either helpful or harmful to your image as a judge,” he said.

Andrews also served the state as an assistant attorney general, superior court judge and member of the Public Service Commission.

Appeals Court Chief Judge Stephen Dillard said, “Although Judge Andrews's retirement is well-deserved, I will miss him dearly, and I express my sincere gratitude to him for his long and distinguished service to our state and this court.”